Green Prudence: The Green Guide Acquired by National Geographic

March 12, 2007

As part of its ongoing mission to inspire people to care about the planet, National Geographic today announced the acquisition of The Green Guide, a comprehensive website (thegreenguide.com) and bi-monthly newsletter that offers practical advice for people on how to lead a more environmentally sensitive life. The announcement was made by Tim Kelly, president and CEO, National Geographic Ventures (NGV), the taxable subsidiary of the 118-year-old National Geographic Society.

NGV takes on The Green Guide as National Geographic expands its efforts to provide the public with meaningful content and valuable information related to the environment. From the National Geographic Channel to National Geographic magazine to Nationalgeographic.com, the Society will speak with one voice around the world on urgent environmental issues, especially climate change and global warming.

"We want to offer creative and practical ways to protect the planet," said Kelly. "This is a terrific marriage that joins The Green Guide's actionable editorial with the deep resources of National Geographic. We believe that, together, we can help make a difference."

Under the umbrella of Nationalgeographic.com, The Green Guide will publish new and expanded online content. The Green Guide online is free to the public and easy to use. It will retain the look and feel of both the print and online original publications while offering a series of new features to consumers.

• The critically acclaimed and highly popular National Geographic News, already a leading provider of environmental news, will expand its online coverage in this category to a daily online report.

• The Green Guide, in partnership with National Geographic's award-winning short-form video production unit, will launch several joint initiatives, the first of which will be Green Homes, a "how to" series of videos, accessible via thegreenguide.com and will be available for download and as podcasts.

• The Green Guide will have access to National Geographic's abundant editorial assets, including research, video and still images.

Since it was founded in 1994 by publisher Wendy Gordon, M.S., a former scientist for the Natural Resources Defense Council, The Green Guide has been committed to offering the average consumer straightforward answers about environmental issues and their relevance to our daily lives. Over the years, the publication's expert editorial staff has spent countless hours sifting through the latest in environmental news, scientific research and green consumer products—food, household, personal care and more—to help readers separate fact from fiction and false claims from legitimate ones.

"From the start, The Green Guide's goal was to provide consumers with a trusted, unbiased resource," Gordon said. "Our mission has always been to educate readers, and we see our new position within the National Geographic family as the next logical step in expanding our brand and our mission."

Also from National Geographic this spring under the "green banner" are two books, True Green: 100 Everyday Ways You Can Contribute to a Healthier Planet, which identifies six areas in everyday life where even small changes pay huge environmental dividends, and From the Bottom Up: One Man's Crusade to Clean America's Rivers, the story of author Chad Pregracke's journey from one-man rubbish remover to internationally renowned river campaigner. Both will be available wherever books are sold April 10, 2007.

About National Geographic

National Geographic Ventures (NGV) is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Geographic Society, which was founded in 1888 and today is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world. NGV holds and manages the Society's equity interest in the National Geographic Channel. NGV also includes National Geographic Television (NGT) production and distribution, both National Geographic Films and National Geographic Giant Screen Films, Kids Entertainment, National Geographic Home Entertainment, Digital Media business development, as well as National Geographic Maps. NGV creates and distributes content across multi-platforms and media providing outlets for the hundreds of scientific and expedition-based grants awarded each year.

Nationalgeographic.com is the award-winning Web site of the National Geographic Society and attracts 4.3 million unique visitors a month. Nationalgeographic.com combines National Geographic's video, photography, and maps with in-depth information and interactive features about animals and nature and destinations and cultures. Nationalgeographic.com's news service, National Geographic News, publishes daily stories about science and discoveries and produces electronic newsletters for more than 650,000 subscribers. Information about advertising on Nationalgeographic.com is at Nationalgeographic.com/advertising.

National Geographic Digital Media's video production unit produces short-form video for broadband markets, including for mobile and gaming markets, and Web sites.

About The Green Guide

The Green Guide is a comprehensive Web site and bi-monthly newsletter that offers objective information and practical advice for consumers on how to lead a greener life. Produced by an expert team of writers, editors and researchers who make it their full time job to sort through the hype surrounding everyday products and behaviors, The Green Guide has established itself as the most reliable source of environmental information for the average consumer since its founding in 1994. For more information, visit thegreenguide.com.